Breast cancer strikes one in nine women in America, resulting in four percent of all female deaths -- and forever changing the lives those who survive. From ravaged bodies, to strained relationships, surviving breast cancer by undergoing a mastectomy influences women's sexuality in many ways. If you have gone through a mastectomy, or know someone who has, here are solutions to five of the most common challenges for women who are courageous enough to carry on:

• Beating Body-Image Issues
• Reintroducing Erogenous Zones
• Finding the Courage to Face the Future
• Getting Past Side Effects of Medications
• Overcoming Fear of Commitment or Intimacy

After a mastectomy, some women undergo breast reconstruction and easily learn to adapt to their new shape. Others with partial or total removal (when reconstruction is not possible) report that they feel "not whole," like they're not a "real woman" any more. They fear recurring medical issues or experience self-loathing every time they look at their scars in the mirror.

On the other side, are women who learn to see themselves differently. They see their own inner beauty, learning to reframe and redefine their new skin as a sign of their beauty and womanhood. Because the female breast is part of the sexual anatomy, many women feel the pressure to have perfect breasts. Here is a secret: No one has perfect breasts. (Or, if it helps, look at it this way: Everyone has perfect breasts.) As you experience mental and emotional healing, you can redirect the way that you speak about your new shape. This is your chance to claim it as perfectly beautiful just the way it is.